Mayor Kadir Topbas

Mayor of Istanbul

Profile

Kadir Topbaş was born in 1945 in Yusufeli, Artvin

He completed his primary and secondary education in Istanbul. He graduated from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University and the Department of Architecture at Mimar Sinan University. He received his PhD degree in the Department of Art History and Archeology at Istanbul University.

He was elected as the Mayor of Beyoğlu District Municipality in 1999, and as the Mayor of Istanbul for three consecutive terms in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

Being the only Mayor of Istanbul who has been elected for three consecutive term in the history of Turkish Republic, Kadir Topbaş is also the President of the United Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA), a Member of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel of Eminent persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the President of United Cities and Local Governments World Organization for which he was elected President for a second consecutive term.

1968 Educational Background

Kadir Topbaş completed his primary and secondary education in Istanbul. He graduated from Faculty of Theology of Marmara University in 1972, and Department of Architecture of Mimar Sinan University in 1974. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on “Hidiv Pavilion and Its Place in Bosphorus Civil Architecture” at the Department of Art History and Archeology of Istanbul University.

1976 - 1994 He works as self-employed architect

Between 1994-1998, he worked as Advisor to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the Mayor of Istanbul at the time. During this time, he contributed to the restoration works of palaces, pavilions and historical monuments under the authority of Metropolitan Municipality. He served as the Vice President of the Istanbul Cultural Assets Preservation and Monuments Board No.1 of the Ministry of Culture. He also managed family businesses for a while.

1999 He becomes the Mayor of Beyoğlu District

He was elected as the Mayor of Beyoğlu District Municipality in 1999. During his term in this position, he implemented the “Beautiful Beyoğlu” project which could be regarded as an exemplary project for the whole city. In Kasımpaşa, he put into service a Sports Hall Complex, Educational and Social Facilities whose project was also designed by himself within the framework of “Urban Transformation and Social Rehabilitation” activities.

2004 He becomes the Mayor of Istanbul

He was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul from AK Party in the local elections held on March 28th, 2004. Mr. TOPBAŞ has various works such as “Beyoğlu: City that Connects Cultures” published in collaboration with Bilgi University, “Beyoğlu from Past to Today I-II” and “Beyoğlu in Memories” published in collaboration with TAÇ Foundation. He was elected as the Co-President of United Cities and Local Governments World Organization, which can be considered as the United States of the cities around the world, for the term 2007-2010. He also serves as the Deputy Chairman of Istanbul Development Agency, Board Member of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Coordination Board and Istanbul Modern Arts Museum, Member of Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of TAÇ (History and Environment) Foundation. Kadir Topbaş is married with three children.

2014 Mayor of Istanbul

In the local elections held on 30th March 2014, he was nominated by Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul for the third consecutive term.